9. Great travel deals

iStockphoto.com

The tourism industry was one of the first to feel the devastating effects of the recession. Bucking the trend, however, are local and small-scale tourism outfits who offer great value for those looking to tighten their belts. If you can’t afford a trip to the Maldives this year, why not look at some of the B&B offers right in your own backyard? And by supporting your local economy, you’ll feel that you’re doing your part to inject a bit of your very own fiscal stimulus. And who knows — thanks to this silver lining to the recession, you might even find that everything you needed was right under your nose to begin with.